A total of 26 older horses and geldings have been nominated to Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s signature race, the $325,000 Dan Patch Stakes set for Friday, Aug. 9. The race, now in its 26th edition, kicks off several months of Grand Circuit style action at the Anderson, Ind. seven-eighths mile oval.
Lazarus N heads to the track for the 2018 Dan Patch Stakes. New owners Taylor Made Stallions were on hand to see their new purchase win the race. (Photo by Tammy Knox)
Included on the list of eligible is last year’s standout Indiana sired pacer Always A Prince. Trained by Tyler George and owned by Carl and Melanie Atley, Always A Prince scored 19 wins in 22 starts last season, earning nearly $500,000 in the process. The Always A Virgin four-year-old has raced twice in 2019 with a second and third place finish thus far.
Joining Always A Prince on the list for the Dan Patch is local fan favorite Freaky Feet Pete, who just won over the weekend at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The now seven-year-old son of Rockin Image won his race in 1:50.4. In all, “Pete” has 34 wins and in excess of $1.5 million in earnings for the Rheinheimer family.
In all, five Indiana sired horses are on the list. Other Indiana sired horses nominated to the race include Always Bet De Grey, Rockin Ron and Breeders Crown champ Beckhams Z Tam.
Horses paid into the Dan Patch Stakes recently completed their final sustaining payment of $2,000 on April 15. An additional $2,500 entry fee is required once the horse is entered into the race. Horses may also supplement into the Dan Patch Stakes for a fee of $25,000.